City looks at free motorcycle parking

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Motorbikes line the street in a parking protest in downtown Vancouver. Edmonton may provide some free parking for bikes. ((CBC))

The City of Edmonton is looking at offering motorcyclists free parking downtown.

City council first talked about the idea last summer around the time it clamped down on noisy motorbikes.

Some councillors noted parking spaces for motorcycles have been squeezed out in the downtown over the last 10-15 years.

A quick review of potential sites identified two that could be set aside immediately for motorcycle parking — one at 104th Avenue and 100th Street, a second at Jasper Avenue and 107th Street.

Each would open up the boulevard to about a dozen motorcycles. The Jasper Avenue site is already used by bikes.

Other cities, such as Toronto, already offer free parking for motorcylists.

Toronto's bylaw was passed as a result of the city's "Pay 'n Display" paid parking system which requires motorists to diplay a ticket for proof of payment. Those tickets tended to disappear from motorcycles.

Edmonton's transportation and public works committee will discuss the idea next week.